Registration takes place today for the 2014 edition of the EUROSAF Youth Sailing, European Championship, with racing starting tomorrow and concluding on Saturday 23rd August.

Strong teams from Italy and Russia will be competing against sailors from Germany, the UK and other European nations, including of course, the host nation, Poland. This is the third occasion this innovative and diverse championship has taken place, following two very successful years in Aarhus, Denmark and Tavira, Portugal. John Friend, Secretary General of EUROSAF, explained that 'the difference between this and other youth championships, is that it is a multi-class event, along similar lines to those young sailors will experience once they start perusing the Olympic dream'. He continued, 'it also differs from the ISAF Youth Worlds in-as-much as each country is permitted to enter two crews in each class, thereby encouraging national as well as international competition. Medal races are part of this championship, which is unique in terms of multi-class youth sailing championships, so we believe we have a winning package.'

The 2014 EUROSAF Youth Sailing, European Championship is being organised by the Polish Yachting Association, in association with EUROSAF and is incorporated in the Gdynia Sailing Day series, generously sponsored by Volvo, Poland.

The opening ceremony will be taking place on the waterfront in Gdynia at 19.00 this evening and will be attended by all the sailors, their coaches, event organisers, race officials and local officials. The EUROSAF flag will be hoisted and flown throughout the championships, only to be taken down at the closing ceremony, when it will be handed on to the hosts of the 2015 championship in France.

'EUROSAF is delighted to be working with the Polish Yachting Association,' said Marco Predieri, the President of EUROSAF. 'Poland and the PYA have long been stalwart supporters of EUROSAF and all that we do for sailing in Europe, so we are confident that the organisation of the 2014 edition of this championship is in excellent hands'.